In a game that almost always sees controversy, the match didn’t ignite until late in the second half.
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STAR MAN – Moussa Dembele has had a frustrating time since swapping Craven Cottage for Celtic Park, with his own patchy form and the red-hot instincts of Griffiths keeping out of Rodgers’ team.
The only goal Dembele was not involved in directly was Stuart Armstrong’s in stoppage-time. Indeed, had Leigh Griffiths proven his fitness, it is highly unlikely that the former Fulham player would even have started.
POLICE have said one arrest was made within Parkhead at today’s Old Firm match which saw Celtic win five goals to one.
He found himself on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Rodgers’ side and while he didn’t have the worst game, Celtic fans rushed to flood the Twitter notifications of the pantomime villain with reminders of what he’d said in recent months.
“It was our best spell and I think they were frustrated that we were getting second ball as well”. We did and for 15 minutes I thought we were good.
However, the entertainment on it was limited until Celtic grabbed the opener.
Champions Celtic dominated possession in the early stages and took the lead after 33 minutes when Dembele headed home Scott Sinclair’s corner powerfully.
Sinclair restored Celtic’s two-goal cushion after 61 minutes, running on to Dembele’s pass before calmly guiding the ball past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
Rangers’ hopes appeared to be slipping away but they pulled a goal back from nowhere on the verge of half-time.
Brown and Barton appeared to exchange words after the second Celtic goal.
However Rangers responded nearly immediately – Kenny Miller sending a header back across goal for Joe Garner to finish and leave it 2-1 at half time.
Midfielder Andy Halliday replaced Kranjcar for the start of the second half and it was Rangers who came close to levelling when Barrie McKay curled a shot past the far post.
Dembele split the Rangers defence as he slipped the ball through for the former Manchester City winger who calmly slide the ball past Foderingham and in off the post.
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Debut defender Philippe Senderos was dismissed for his second caution on 75 minutes – Gers assistant David Weir was also sent to the stand – but by then the game had always been won.
